Lamp-wick.



No. 800,041. PATENTBD SEPT. 19, 1905. W. A. WILSON.

LAMP WIOK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.1905.

, [/VVENTOR WM 155 mafia/1mm. 7/" 7 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM A. WILSON, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO PATRICK STRAHUN, OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS.

LAMP-WICK- Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed June 28,1905. Serial No. 267.418.

I citizen of the United States, residing at Murphysboro, in the county of Jackson, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Wicks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a lamp-wick, and particularly to a wick formed of separate single strands collected in contact with each other to form a conducting medium from the oil to the point of ignition.

The invention has for an object to provide a wrapping by which the strands of such a wick" are held in proper contact with each other and also to prevent bunching or collection of the strands of the wick when drawn through a lamp-tube, which will occur at the bottom of the tube, thus effecting a clogging at that point and by the compression of the wick material reduce the capillary feed to the point of ignition.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth, and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a miners lamp, showing the wick applied thereto; and Fig. 2, a detail perspective of the wick with the wrapping or winding strand applied thereto.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in both figures of the drawings.

The letter A indicates a miners lamp of any ordinary construction, provided with a suitable spout or wick tube A extending therefrom, through which the end of the wick B to be ignited is drawn, while the remainder of the wick is coiled or nested within the body of the lamp and saturated with oil or otherilluminating liquid. For the purpose of conveniently introducing this wick into alamp of this character an inserting-cord B is applied to one end of the wick and is of sufiicient length to extend through the spout or tube A when the end of the wick to which it is attached is inserted within the lamp. This cord may be conveniently threaded through the tube by blowing into the top of the lamp after the wick is inserted therein, and the escaping air through the tube carries the cord therethrough, by which means the wick may be drawn into position, as shown in Fig. 1.

This wick is formed of a plurality of strands, preferably untwisted and extending in straight lines through the tube, so as to secure the maximum capillary feed and consequently the most eflicient action of the wick. When it is attempted to draw these straight strands through the tube, the bulk thereof causes them to bunch or collect in a tight mass at the bottom of the tube, and even if the wick be temporarily tightly twisted at the time of its insertion as soon as released it will again expand and clog the tube when further drawn outward in the use of the lamp. To prevent this practical difliculty in wicks applied to miners lamps, torches, or other lanterns, the wick is wound throughout its length with one or more strands B so as to hold the wickstrands against twisting and also against bunching or clogging while being drawn into position. This wrapping-strand B is preferably wrapped closer or tighter about the inner end of the wick than at the ignition end, as the most longitudinal strain upon the wickstrands occurs at that point. As shown in Fig. 2, the wrapping-strand is tightly or closely wound at the end B of the wick and then more loosely or openly wound toward the opposite end thereof in order to leave this end free, so

as to secure the ample feed at the point of ignition, while the wrapping-strand is then secured to the wick, and the extended end thereof forms the inserting-cord B before described. After the wick is inserted in position and once ignited this inserting-cord is consumed, and in the use of the wick the wrapping-strand being burned off as the wick is used always permits the outer or ignition end thereof to be open or free, so as to secure the desired flame at'that point.

A wick constructed in accordance with this invention may be properly and regularly wrapped by machinery and is always in condition for ready insertion in a wick-tube, so that no part of the wick can slip or bunch in the lamp and consequently clog the capillary feed along the strands thereof, which is most effectually accomplished by the use of continuous straight strands as distinguished from a woven or tightly-twisted structure.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A lamp-wick comprising a plurality of continuous strands disposed in circular form,

said Wick and more closely Wound at one end thereof than at the other end to compress the same to a greater extent than the opposite end of the wick. I 5

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WILSON.

Witnesses:

J. E. REES, SAM WILSON. 

